Apparatus for working plastic material



May 17, 1949. c. H. PARMELEE ET AL 2,470,633

APPARATUS FOR WORKING PLASTIC MATERIAL Filed Dec. 14, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS: ART/WM .7. 52/455 us By cur/ 020 H. PARHEL 5E,

May 17, 1949. c. H. PARMELEE ETAL APPARATUS FOR WORKING PLASTIC MATERIAL F iled Dec. 14, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 -m hr May 17, 1949- c. H. PARMELEE ETAL 2,470,638

APPARATUS FOR WORKING PLASTIC MATERIAL Filed Dec. 14, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS. ARTHUR \7I BRIGGS Y CUP/0R0 H- PARMELEE,

May 17, 1949. c. H. PARMELEE ETAL APPARATUS FOR WORKING PLASTIC MATERIAL 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 14, 1945 III 1-. w wm j 7 w w 4 mg U 9 0 V N N u 0 8 J R 0 I. 0 A4 a Rfl W M A H. .I II H L b i I Y M 1 T, 1 c I I A 11 1k w 7 J 1 Y 0 0 B n Q T 0 H 8 I U 2 8 W W a w a 4/ 0; z W 8 Z 3 V M W o z a l In M .llll N Ilfill|l||||l||lilll MH I I I I U HHHHHHNH I IHHHUI .m W M W y 1949- c. H. PARMELEE ET AL 2,470,638

APPARATUS FOR WORKING PLASTIC MATERIAL Filed Dec. 14, 1945 A 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 y 17, 1949- c. H. PARMELEE ET AL 2,470,638

APPARATUS FOR WORKING PLASTIC MATERIAL 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Dec. 14, 1945 INVENTORS. ART/10R J: B/Wfid .3

PM a P? M+ MM 7 30 Y B 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 C. H. PARMELEE ETAL APPARATUS FOR WORKING PLASTIC MATERIAL firmw- May 17,1949.

Filed Dec.

May 17, 1949. c. H. PARMELEE ErAL 2,470,638

APPARATUS FOR WORKING PLASTIC MATERIAL I Filed Dec. 14, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet '9 'e) 72 72 a 75 V 03 Patented May 17, 1949 APPARATUS FOR- WORKING PLASTIC MATERIAL Clifiord H. Parmelee and Arthur J. Briggs, Syracuse, N. Y., assignors to Onondaga Pottery Company, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 14, 1945, Serial No. 634,926

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for forming articles from plastic material, such as the forming of dinner ware from plastic clay.

The invention has as an object a power operated machine which functions to spread a blank of clay to substantially flat disk formation resembling a pie-crustlike bat, automatically transferring and inverting the formed bat onto the surface of a mold, and subsequently jiggering the bat. These various operations are performed automatically in timed relation, it being only necessary for the operator to place a blank or lump of clay on the machine and remove molds from the machine with the clay thereon jiggered to form.

Heretofore, dinner ware and the like have been formed almost entirely by spreading a clay blank to fiat disk form, the disk being known as a bat. The bat is transferred, or thrown manually, onto a mold in a jiggering machine, and the bat is jiggered by a manual operation. The transfer or throwing of the bat onto the mold, and the subsequent jiggering operation, requires a considerable degree of skill.

Our machine incorporates means for transferring the bat to the surface of the mold in a manner simulating that of the manual transfer. This transfer is so effected that one side, or portion of the bat adjacent the periphery thereof, first contacts the mold, and the remaining portion progressively engages the surface of the mold, whereby air is excluded between the bat and the mold, and the bat properly engages the surface of the mold so that said surface is reproduced in the Ware without .blemishes, or other defects.

The invention has as a further object, rotary spreading and jiggering mechanisms embodying a novel arrangement for actuating the clay engaging tools to effect a rapid and efficient tooling of the clay without producing blemishes, or defects, which usually occur in using rotatable toolsin combination with a stationary mold.

In our machine the spreading, bat transferring and jiggering operations, are performed while the operator is placing the clay blanks on the machine and removing the molds with the jiggered ware thereon, and placing empty molds in the machine, all whereby the operator is able to materially increase his production.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which like 2 characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of the machine with parts of the frame shown in section.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine.

Figure 3 is a View, taken on line 33, Figure 1.

Figure 4. is an enlarged side elevational View of the jiggering mechanism with parts shown in section.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of jiggering mechanism, and structure carried thereby, for applying lubricant to the ware during the jiggering operation.

Figure 6 is an end elevational view of the machine.

Figure 7 is an end elevational view of the mechanism for moving the bat transfer members.

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the mechanism shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view of the cam follower structure shown in Figures 7 and 8.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of a transfer member support and carrying arms.

Figure 11 is a view, taken on line I ll I, Figure 8, illustrating the mechanism for contracting the arms shown in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line l2l2, Figure 10.

The spreading and jiggering mechanisms are mounted on a suitable frame or cabinet formed of lengthwise extending members [5 and various cross members I6, and vertically extending members [1, see Figure 1. A spreading turret I8 is journalled in proximity to one end of the frame, and a jiggering turret I9 is positioned in proximity to the opposite end of the frame. The turret I8 is secured to a hollow shaft vertically journalled in a boss 2| extending upwardly from a supporting plate 22 which is mounted over an aperture in the top 23 of the frame. A sprocket 25 and a disk 26 are secured to the lower end of the shaft 20.

The turret I9 is secured to a similar shaft 28 vertically journalled in the upwardly extending boss 29, Figures 1 and 4, of plate 30, likewise positioned over an aperture in the frame top 23. The shaft 28 is provided, on its lower end, with a sprocket 3| and a disk 32. This disk is provided with six equally spaced slots 33, and the disk constitutes a Geneva which is intermittently rotated by a crank 34 having a roller 35 at its outer end for engaging the slots 33. The crank 34 is mounted upon the upper end of a vertically journalled shaft 36, the lower end of which is provided with a bevel gear 38 engaging a similar with the outer side of the pulley-spring pressed,

toward the inner side whereby when the motor. is moved toward and from the shaft M by wheel 48, the speed of the shaft 44 is-varied. The shaft 44 is provided with a pulley-349' an'djbymeans of belt 50, drives a pulley "mountedup ona second transversely extending shaft 52 which is provided with a Worm engaging avwormwheelie? secured to the shaft 40, whereby the shaftflil is constantly rotated and the turret l9 periodically indexed about the axis of shaft 28.

The turret l8is1ikewise indexedin timed relation to the turret is through the chain 54 trainednver the sprockets' zwal.

ThediskZB isform'ed, in" its periphery, with a.pluralityofnotcheSBB, there being one of these notches for each 'indexed position, and the notches areen'gaged'byadetent 5i urged towards the axis ofthe diskby spring-58, see Figure 3. The outer end of the slots 33, in disk 32, areiikewise engaged by adetent =58-*A urged inwardly byspring"59. The-purposeof the 'detents 51, 58-A, is to accurately 'position the turrets l8, l9, at the en'd-of each indexing movement. The turret I8 'is provided -wi'th *rad-ially extending arms 60 which serve as carriers for transfer members-'6 I.

-A-"circularpad 62, see Figures -'10and 12,-is mounted 'onthe outer- 'endof-"each of the arms 60, and is formed in its periphery with diametrically-opposed notches 63. The transfer member= consists-of -a ring fl-formed withinwardly *ex ten'din'g projections complemental to the notches-=63. A screen iifi is mounted=upon thering 64, anda disk' o'f fabric 1 material "61, suc'hx s 'chamois is superimposed upon the screen 66. An annular clamping' member '68 is cooperable "with the-marginal-"portionof the-screen and fabric 66, 61, to secure thesame to the ring 64. This ning is formed with an upwardly -exteridin nannular edge 69, and over which the marginal portion of the screen and "fabricis drawn by the clampingring 'fia when screws 'HJ are tightened, this servingto draw thescreen and fabric more-pr less taut.

: I he periphery of the ring member 6 5 is formed,

with1a: 'circumferential groove 1 I to receive inwardly ext'ending arcuate projections 72 on transfer-arm :13. The rings 64, 68, are also formed with diametrically opposed notches M to receive correspondingiprojections l5 formed on 'thei inner- -surfaces of:.thearm' 13, and the ring 64 is provided with positioning stops ifi toposition the transfer arms 13 so that the ribs-"l2 will enter the grooves: Y'ILI.

With this arrangementplthe transfer members 61' are maintained rini predetermined pos'itionpor r'elatiom'on :the pad. 62 andiare removable therefrom;and-returnedthereto, by the transfer arms -13; the structure and operaiti on of which will be hereinafterrdescribed.

The turret l9 is alikewise foimiectiwith a plurality of: radially: extending-tarmac!) provided i at their 1 outer 'en'ds-with mold' carriers: 1 8 l: adapted to receive: and carry conventional molds 582 formed of, plaster of Paris, or :the like.

As the turrets l8, l9, are indexed in a clockwise direction, Figure 2, the transfer members 6| are successively moved from a loading station, as indicated at L, Figure 2, to a spreading station indicated at S, and thence to a transfer station'T, "and the mold carryingmem-bers 8| are likewise successively moved from a station A, where the molds with the jiggered Ware thereon .may be removed, and a fresh mold inserted in the carrier 8l,.-to a station indicated at B where -theclay' bat is deposited, in inverted form, on the top surface of the mold, and thence to one or more =jiggering stations J, J, and thence to the (at the-station Lt'or-the next succeeding station,

Figure 2. As the turret I8 is indexed, the transfer-member 6|, with the blank thereon, is moved to the spreading station S, and while the turret-isat rest,-a rotating spreading tool is moved downwar dly into engagement with r the blank 85, spreading or forming'the blank-into flat disk form, asindicated: at- 86, Figure 2. The spreadingrtool consists of a pair of radiallyextending. blades 8'! pivotally: mounted: at their innor ends etc a 'rotat-ing shaft fla iounnal1ed in a bracket e89 carried "bya hollow shaft slidably mounte'dJin Shaft-IZD.

"After the-blankr85Ehas been spread into the form of a batl86,.the turretfl fl is indexed toposition'bat transfer zmernber fii at-the stationT, whereupon the transfertmember is moved through an are indicated by. the: dotted line- '91, and the bat 86 is thrown, or deposited, upon the face of a mold 82 positioned atstation B. Uponthe next indexing of: the turret i9v the mold-withthe-bat 86 thereongist'movedcto the jigger'ing-station 'J. In the formation .of' certaintypes of- -ware; one Jiggeringoper-ation is sufficient. In other types, the jiggering is better-performed by-successive operations-and thetmachine as.shown, includes two jiggering tsta'tionsiJrand 'J.

With this arrangement, :the ware 'is partially jiggereda't the :station J,.and .the jiggeri-ng is-finished at-stationrJ. :AtFea'ch of: these stationsya jiggering :mechanism is arranged which consists of apair of radiallyiextendingzblades"92, see F-igure- 4, the lowern'edges of which are formedto the desired shape. TThe1.blades 592 are 'pivotally mounted-at their 'innereendstoaa plug member! secured to the lowerxend ofr-alshaft 94 vertically .journa-lled ilI'la-S188Vei95 adjustably mounted in 'a bracketw96' carried-bya hollow shaftBlslidably mounted 'in the turret-shaft428. The shaft-9'4 is rotated by: a-motor QBNthroughwbeIt -QS which is trained over aapulley: lvflfli'rmounted upon the motor shaft, and a pulley; IB'IIzmOUIItBdupon the [upper-end of shaft 94. The-shaft *9'1, and the bracket 96- carried thereby, is r-moved vertically by a cam- 192 which is"enga'ged:.@by .a. roller-4 03 carried on abracket. wisecured' toithe lower .end of shaft 91. The. bracket I041 isformed 'with an arm 1B5, the-outer end of which is provided with a slot to slidably engageapin- :lflfidepending from the plate'til. The purpose-ofthearm- I05 and-.pin

106 is to preventcany rotary motion of shafts! while it is'being moved up and down. When the cam llflrpermitsdownward 'movement of shaft 91, and the jiggering mechanism carried thereby,

the forming 'tools'"92* are moved into engagement with the-'clay-bat on the'mold and, because these blades are rotating" about the axis of shaftijal,

the top surface-of the-batis jiggered to "form. It will, of course, be' understood-that the-top 'sur- 5 face of the mold forms the opposite side of the ware.

The blades 92 are pivotally connected, intermediate their ends, to depending arms I'I which are secured to a sleeve I08 slidably mounted upon the shaft 94, the sleeve being recessed as at I09 to receive the forked end of a lever H0 pivoted to the bracket 96, as at I I I. The opposite end of the lever H0 is pivotally connected to a rod II2 depending from an arm I I3 secured to the upper end of an inner shaft II4 which is slidably mounted in the shaft 91 and which is provided, at its lower end, with a bracket and roller I I5 arranged to engage a cam IIB also mounted on shaft 40. The forked end of the lever H0 and accordingly, the sleeve I08 is normally maintained in up position by a tension spring I I1 secured at one end to the arm H3 and at its opposite end to the bracket 95 and, in this position, the lower edges of the blades 92 do not extend in the same plane, but the outer ends of the blades are positioned slightly upward, as indicated in Figure 4.

The arrangement is such that the blades descend and engage the clay bat at their innermost ends and thereupon, roller I I5 engages cam IIB causing the shaft II4 to be moved upwardly and sleeve I08 moved downwardly to position the lower edges of the forming tools 92 horizontally, or in the same plane, and at the completion of the jiggering operation the blades 92 are again moved about their pivot on shaft 94, whereupon the outer ends of the blades leave the clay first, and the separation is progressive across the face of the ware to the center thereof.

As previously stated, in the machine here shown, there are two jiggering stations and both jiggering mechanisms are identical except for the blade contours.

With the exception of the contour of the lower edges of the spreading blades 81, the spreading mechanism is also substantially the same as the jiggering mechanism. That is, the shaft carrying the bracket 89 has, mounted on its lower end, a cam follower I20 engaging a cam I2I on shaft 40 to effect vertical movement of the brackets 69, and the blades 8'! are moved about the pivot at their inner ends to assume a horizontal position by an arrangement as described in connection with the jiggering mechanism, this pivotal movement of the blades 81 being effected by a follower I23 engaging the cam I24, the method of operation being similar to that described in connection with the jiggering mechanism. That is, the cam I2 I' functions to lower the blades 01 into engagement with the clay blank on the transfer member 6| and thereafter, the blades are moved to straight horizontal position by the cam I24.

It will be observed that the operator need only place the clay blank 85 on the transfer member 6 I, remove molds with jiggered ware thereon from the turret I9, and place empty molds thereon. While he is performing those operations, the clay blank is being spread to bat form, and the bats on the molds are being jiggered to final form, all whereby the operator is able, without exercising any additional effort, to materially increase the production of finished ware.

'The movement of the transfer member 6| through the arcuate path 9I is effected by the arms I3 which are slidably mounted on a shaft I30 and rotatable therewith. The shaft I30 is journalled in a bracket I33 extending upwardly from the frame top 23. A pinion I34 is secured to one end of the shaft I30 and meshes with a gear L35 which has. associated with it a crank arm I36 pivotally connected to a link I3! extending downwardly through the frame top and being connected at its lower end to a lever I38 pivoted intermediate its ends to a bracket I39 depending from the under side of the frame top. The link I3! is urged upwardly by tension spring I40 connected between the outer portion of lever I38 and the frame of the machine. The inner end of lever I38 is provided with a roller I42 engaging a cam I43 mounted upon shaft 40. This cam is formed with high lobes I45, I46, an intermediate section I41, and a lower section I48. One side of the cam is formed with a laterally extending projection I49 which is coextensive with the intermediate lobe I41 and which is engaged by a roller I50 also carried by lever I38.

As the cam I43 rotates in a clockwise direction Figure 8, the roller I42 engages the high portion I45, moving the link I3'I downwardly effecting rotation of the gear I35 in a clockwise direction Figure 7, and rotating pinion I34 and shaft I30 in a counter-clockwise direction to lower the free ends of the arms I3 to position the same in proximity to the periphery of the transfer member 6|. Upon further rotation of the cam I43, the roller I42 drops to the low section I48 of the cam, permitting the spring I40 to quickly move the link I31 upwardly and thus effect rapid counter-clockwise rotation of gear I35, and clockwise rotation of shaft I30, moving the outer ends of the arms through the arcuate path 9|, Figure 1. This movement continues until the arms engage a stop member of yieldable material I52 supported by a bracket I53 mounted upon the bearing bracket I33. This stoppage of arms is abruptand causes the spread bat, carried by the transfer member, to be inverted and thrown from the member onto the mold at the station B of turret I9. The arms are bent, as illustrated in Figure 1, whereby shaft I30 is positioned above the plane of the transfer member (ii on turret I8, and are in substantially horizontal position When they are moved into engagement with the transfer member on turret l8, and they are likewise in substantially horizontal arrangement when movement of the arms is stopped by the bumper I52. Inasmuch as the portion of the bat furthest from the axis of shaft I30 is traveling at a speed greater than the inner portion of the bat, the outer portion is released from the transfer member BI first and descends faster than the rest of the bat, whereby the bat descends toward the mold 02 in an inclined position, as shown at I55, Figure 1. Accordingly, one edge of the bat strikes the mold first and then the bat progressively contacts the mold across the surface thereof and thus excludes air from between the bat and the face of the mold, this arrangement functioning in a manner similar to the bat being thrown onto the mold by a skilled operator.

As previously stated, the arms I3 are rotatable with the shaft I30, but are slidably mounted thereon. The hubs I56 of the arms are provided on their inner ends with circular collars I51 and with projections I58. A member I59 is pinned to the shaft and is positioned intermediate the projections I58, and carries in its end a transversely extending pin I80, the pin extending through apertures formed in the projections I50. Thus, the arms are rotatable with the shaft and are maintained in alinement. The arms are normally maintained in spaced apart relation by a compression spring I6I arranged in an aperture formed in the member I59 and engaging the confronting faces of the projections I58,

QWSB

i :After the: arms 11:3 have I been moved.- into .proximity to the transfer .member :on ithe :turret 4:8, they are contracted to :grip the anember. contraction of the armszisibroughhabouti-bymollers 16 engaging the arcuate collarsilfil. Each Ofi the. rollers lid! is mounted. upon: aisli'ding" member l 68. These.members areslidablyrmounted on across piece M 69:forming-partbf the bracketzldd. A vertically journalledshaft ltlfl extendsthrough the --cross member I69 and has secured to itsz up perv-end a rectangul-ar member lfll :having a pair of :upwardly extending -pins d212, each of Which engage a notch; in one of the slidingmembers Hi8, see=Figure -l-1.

When the shaft 41.0 is-rotated in'a counterclockwise direction Figure 11, themem-bers H 68 are :moved to effect separationof the rollers 181 and the spring-Nil eflects separation-of the arms. Rotation, oroscillation, of t'heshaftl III is brought about -by-a cam 4-15 -mounted on-shaft 4 0. =An arm I16 issecured to=the-lower end of the shaft Wit-and is provided with a roller 1-78 engaging cam H5. The position of the cam11-5'on shaft M0, --and *the general arrangement .is such that whenthe arms =have=been moved in a counterclockwisedirectiongFig-ures-l and 7, to a position inproximity to-the ti'anSfermember -BL-the shaft I is-rotated ina clockwise-- direction,-thus-movingthe :rollers I61 inwardly toward the axis of theshaft I 10 and causing the-arms to-be-moved into engagement with-the transfer member and the ribs -12 positioned ingroove "H. This takes place while the roller H8 is 1 inengagement with thelobe Ell-Son the cam I- P5 ,-and the extentof lobe=l-15 issuch'that-the arms-are caused to grip the transfer'member while it is moved-through thearcuate path 91 I to --efiect transfer of the bat 86 to the IHOIClyflhd while'the arms are moved in reverse direction l to return the I transfermembe-r tome-turret l8,-w-hereupon'the roller H8 reachesthe-end of thelobe I19 permittingsprin-g F61 toseparate the arms.

= The arms are returned by upward movement of theiink l 3l by'the lobe portion I 46 of-cam M3, whereuponthe transfer member is-released, as just stated,-and the roller I42 thereupon-descends =on=the intermediate portion 141 -of the cam. This effects a-partial'rotationof the-arms in a-elock-wise direction, Figures 1 and 7, to the positionshown'in Figure -1, and-while the arms are maintainedin this position i by l the lobe M1, bothof the turrets I 8, 1 I 9, :are indexed.

Lubricant-may beappliedto the bat-while it is being ji-gg-eredatthe -jiggerin-g-stati-ons J, J as by a spray nozzle lfl, itbeing-understoodzthat the nozzles 90, -at-the spreading and jiggering stations, are turned onand off-at the'desired times bymeans of valves operatedbycams which maybe'mounted upon the 'main shaft d'fl, suchan arrangement being conventional in power 0perated jiggering =machines.

'-'For some types and sizes-of the ware, it -is preferable to'mount the'nozzlesdlfl on the jiggering mechanism, as illustrated 'in Figure '6, the nozzies there shown being of the-atom-izing type and being connected to -an air supply line 200-. In-this-instance, the-shaft -94-is -hollow, and'th-e air-supply line 200 is-connected to -.-a tube 20! extending axially =of'the shaft and inspaced relation to the bore thereof. The tube ZB l is connected, at its upper -'end,-to-the-air line 200=-by means of a rotary connection head 203 and at its-lower end, the tube-is connected to-thenozzles 90 by later-allyextending i pipes 204. -=A- tube- 295 is positioned in i the tube :24, and -is I connected at iits dipper end -to.a-.water=-supp1y:.1ine1M6. ,At its lower end, the tube 205 is connected to .-;the nozzles by laterally extending-pipes 1201. The pipes .2114, till, .extend through apertures in=the side wall of theshaft'flfi and through vertically extending slotsinsleeve Hi8. When airds supplied under pressure to the line 200 and accord.- ing-ly .to the nozzles '90, the nozzles. are effective toidraw water through the line .206 and direct a spray upon the ware being ijiggered. Breferably, one of the nozzles is directed toward the center. of the :ware, and the. othernozzle directed toward. the periphery of the' ware.

A trimmer 203 is adjustably mounted on .a bracket 269 secured to the [plug .mcmbcr 19.3 ,at the-lower-end of theisha-ft 9A andprovided with a T \slot 2), :the trimmer 2 ll8xbeing adjustably secured to-the bracket by a/clamping'screw 2H,. whereby the trimmer may be adjusted toward and from the centerof the-shaft 394, so thatit may be positioned .to trim oil :the excess :clay that forms on the periphery .cf the :piece of ware 242. The bracket 2B91is pivoted at 214 to the plug member 93, and is moved toward andfrom the mold M-by-arrair. operated arrangement consisting of.a.cyli-nder:2l15 secured :t-o one of the arms; Inland in which istmountedtapiston 2T6 :connected .to a ilink 12 t1, vthe lower rend of which is connected to the bracket 1211.9. The piston and the bracket areiyieldinglyrurgeddownward by acompressionspring;,. 21l8 and-are moved upwardly when air is-supplied to the lower end of the cylinder through the pipe TRIS-extending through the side wall/of the shaftndiand conmeeting-with the passage between theztubeiiifl Land the shaft, the :upper end .of :this ,passage sbei'ng connected to a second air line'flflsby means 10f a rotatable connection 22!. Air is supplied L the lines 2-00, :220, by ya-lves'22r2,- 223,1operated bycams 224, 225, 'mounted .upon :shaft 140, :the arrangement being such .that air is supplied .to theline 2120 to efiect. a proper :water spray. on the warez l 2 :for: the correct duration. and the-trimmer 28B. isv moved into. trimming position at the-proper time.

During the jiggering. operationsat the stations J, J, ashield is elevated around the :molds M to prevent the .excess clay rfrom -being athrown onto parts of the machine, Or-on finiShed-Mare at the adiacentstation. These shields .are=.in the nature ofopen-ended cylindrical -.mernber.s :23! for-med of sheetanaterial. "The-shields 235 are of l appreciably greater diameter than the molds 8=2and are provided with depending sidem-embers 23 I, to i the lower endof :which are'pivotallyconnected :links Q32, :theopposite-ends of .whichare pivotally connected 'to a vertieally extending trainemember 2-33. There is provided a shield member Millet each jiggeringstationand these members are secured together as==at Q35,- see Figure 2, and there are a pai-rof the links 232 connected to the member 2 3l depending from each of the shields. This arrangement constitutes :a parallelogram action, whereby the shields 230 are moved vertically. The lower links 232 are secured toa-shaft' 238 having secured to the inner end thereof an arm -2'39.-prov-ided with a-roller engaging acam z lll mounted uponshaft' M. --'Ih e links 232, -:and 1 accordingly the shields 230, are moved upwardlyby a tension-spring Z42',Figurei6, and are moved downwardly: by "the :lobe 243 engagin theroller-of arm 239. The cam' un isso positioned as-to permit springflMhtoimovesthe shields '2'30 vertically i to :the .dotted iline 7 position, Figure-6, where: they: remain-duringf'the =jiggering operation. The excess clay removed by the forming blades 92 and by the trimmer 2% falls through the shields and is collected in a receptacle 255.

In operation, the operator places the blank or pug 85 upon one of the transfer members at the loading station, the turrets I8, It, are then indexed and the blank is spread at the spreading station S to a relatively thin disk of bat form. Upon the next indexing of the turrets, the bat arrives at the transfer station T and, whilethe turrets are at rest, the transfer mechanism operates, as described, to flip or throw the bat onto a mold at station E. This operation effects an inversion of the bat so that the smooth, slick, top surface of the bat is deposited on the face of the mold and in such manner that the air is excluded from between the bat and the mold. Upon the next indexing of the turrets, this bat is partially jiggered at station J and, on the next movement of the turret, the jiggering operation is completed at station J. Upon a subsequent movement of the turret, the operator removes the mold 82 with the jiggered piece of ware 2l2 thereon, and places an empty mold in the mold carrier.

It will be observed that the spreading and jiggering operations are taking place While the operator is placing the clay blank on a transfer member, removing the mold with the completed Ware, and inserting an empty mold in its place.

An important feature of the machine is that the bat is deposited upon the mold with the smooth surface next to the mold, as distinguished from automatic Ware forming machines now in operation wherein the clay is initially spread, or

thebat formed, directly on the mold and not subsequently removed therefrom and inverted.

Another feature of importance resides in the action of the spreading and jiggering tools in that one end of the tools first engages the clay and then progressively tools the clay radially of the ware, and in first retracting one end of the tools from the Ware and subsequently retracting the rest of the tool progressively from the material.

Ware made on this machine is of improved quality over that made on other automatic ware forming machines, and closely equals that made by the hand jiggering method.

Our machine has the further advantage in minimizing mold wear which results from the molds being carried by non-rotating members. In conventional jiggering machines, where the mold is rotated, there is considerable slippage between the rotating chuck and the mold, which results in excessive wear on the p1asterof-Paris mold, and thus materially reduces the normal life of the mold.

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus of the type described including mechanism for spreading blanks of clay to bat form on a succession of transfer members, mechanism for successively moving said members through an arc to invert the same and deposit the bats on a succession of molds, mechanism operable to jigger the bats on said molds successively, and motion transmitting means for operating said mechanisms in timed relation.

2. Apparatus of the type described including mechanism for spreading blanks of clay to bat form on a succession of transfer members, mechanism for moving said transfer members successively through an arc to invert the same and deposit the bats on a succession of molds, jiggering mechanism operable to jigger the bats on successive molds, and motion transmitting 10 means for operating said mechanisms and advancing said transfer members and molds in succession in timed relation.

3. Apparatus of the type described including a transfer station, a bat receiving station, means operable to successively present transfer members with bats thereon to said transfer station, and to successively present molds at said bat receiving station, transfer mechanism including a pair of arms pivotally mounted at like ends on an axis arranged intermediate said stations, and mechanism operable, in timed relation with the advancement of said transfer members and molds, for moving said arms into engagement with said transfer members successively, moving said arms about their pivot to position said transfer members inverted above the molds, effecting reverse movement of said arms to return said transfer members to said transfer station, and releasing said transfer members.

4. Apparatus of the type described including a spreading turret adapted to carry a plurality of transfer members, a jiggering turret adapted to carry a plurality of molds, motion transmitting means operable to index said turrets in timed relation so as to move said transfer members successively through a spreading station and a transfer station, and to move said molds successively through a bat receiving station, a jiggering station, and a discharge station, spreading means arranged at said spreading station and operable to spread a blank of clay to bat form on said transfer members, jiggering mechanism arranged at said jiggering station and operable to jigger the bat on the molds, mechanism operable to move said transfer members positioned at the transfer station through an arc to invert and deposit the spread bat on a mold at said bat receiving station, and motion transmitting means for operating said spreading, jiggering and transfer mechanisms and indexing said turrets all in timed relation.

5. Apparatus of the type described including a spreading turret and a jiggering turret, a plurality of transfer members detachably mounted on said spreading turret, a plurality of mold supports carried by said jiggering turret, said spreading turret being journalled on a vertical axis, said transfer members being movable successively through a spreading station and a transfer station upon rotation of said turret, said jiggering turret being journalled on a vertical axis, and the molds carried by said mold supports being movable through a bat receiving station, a jiggering station and a discharge station, spreading means operable at said spreading station to spread a blank of clay on a transfer member to bat form, jiggering means arranged at said jiggering station and operable to jigger the hat on a mold, bat transfer mechanism arranged intermediate said turrets and operable to move a transfer member positioned at said transfer station through an arc and deposit the bat carried by said transfer member onto a mold positioned at said bat receiving station, and motion transmitting means operable to index said turrets and actuate said transfer mechanism, spreading means and jiggering means in timed relation.

6. An apparatus for forming plastic clay including a support for the clay, a spindle journalled on a vertical axis above the support, means operable to effect rotation of the spindle, a forming blade pivotally mounted at its inner end on the lower end of the spindle on an axis ex- 11 tending perpendicular, to the axis of the spindle, saidbl'ade extending radially outwardly from the axis of the spindle and being normally. inclined upwardly from its pivot,.and' means. operable to effect movement ofsaidspiiidle during the rotation thereof towards said support to. bring, the inner end of saidtool'into engagement with the clay, and meansoperable independently of said last mentionedimeans to subsequently move said blade about its pivot to bring the'remai'ning por- 2'.

tion of the blade. into contact with the clay progressively.

7. Apparatus for forming plastic clay including a support for' the clay; a spindle journalled on a vertical axis" above" said support, a pair of formin'g blades pivotallymounted at their inner endsto said spindle; said blades being normally inclined upwardly from their pivots, means 0perable to effect rotation of said-spindle and relative movement between said support and said spindle to bring the' inner endsof" said" blades into contact with the clay; and" means subsequently operable, during'suc'h rotation" and independently'of said last'mentioned' means, to move said blades about their pivots, and to' bring the remaining portion of said blades progressively into contact with the*c1ay.'

8; Apparatus ofthe type described including mechanism foradvancing a' procession oft'ransfer member supports; a-transfer-member-detaoh= ably' positioned on each" of saidsupport's; mechanism-fbr advancing a procession of mould sup"- ports, a mould positioned on each of said mould supports, mechanism operable tospread a blank of clay to bat'formon' each'of said-'transfermembers successively; mechanism for successively movingsaidtransfer members-from their 'respec"- tive support's through an arc-to invert'thesame and deposit the-formed b'at's orr said'moulds suc cessively, and return saidtransfermembersto their supports, jiggerihg' mechanismoperable to jigger the bats on the moulds successively; and motion transmitting means for operating said mechanisms in timed relation.

9; Apparatus for: jiggering plastic clay into finished form including a support for the clay,

a forming blade positioned above. said. support with the inner end of. the blade arranged. in alinement with the axis of said support,- and said blade extending radially outwardly from said axis, means operable to effect relative axial and rotatable movement between said support and said blade to effect engagement of the inner end of the blade and the clay, and means operable during such movement and independently of said last mentioned. means to move the remaining portion of said blade into, contact with the clay progressively from the. inner end of the blade to the outer end thereof.

10. Apparatus for jiggering plastic clay into finished form including a support for the clay, a forming blade positioned above said support with the inner end of the blade arranged in alinement with the axis of said support, and said blade extending radially outwardly from said axis, means operable to effect relative axial and rotatable movement between said support and said blade to effect engagement of the inner' end of the bladeand the clay, and means. operable during such movement and independently of said last mentioned means to move the remaining portion of said bladeinto contact with the clay progressively fromthe inner end thereof, and to subsequently move said'blad'e outof contact with the clay progressively from the outer end of the blade inwardly.

CLIFFORD H. PARMELEE. ARTHUR J. BRIGGS;

REFERENCES CITED The following references areof recordin the file of. this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,145,767v Haney July 6, 1915 1,395,161. Strobl Oct. 25, 1921 1,423,009. Muckenhirn. July. 18, 1922 1,430,309 Kinnard Sept. 26, 1922 2,167,386 Kinnard July' 25,. 1939 2,362,058 Emerson Nov. '7, 1944 2,409,221 Miller Oct. 15, 1946 

